Crews rescue woman on roof as two-alarm fire rips through abandoned church (PHOTOS)



OLYMPIA - Olympia fire department crews battled a two-alarm fire at an abandoned business and former church building early Monday morning, rescuing a woman as flames drove her to the roof.

Olympia Fire said that the blaze was reported around 2:25 a.m. at the former Capital City Studios on 4th Avenue East, near downtown Olympia.

The building had been empty for years. Most recently it was Capitol City Studios. It originally was the Foursquare Gospel church of Olympia.

A ladder truck rescued the woman from the roof about an hour before it collapsed. A man who also was on the roof jumped off, hurting his ankle, and ran away. Both received aid at a local hospital, city officials said, but the extent of their injuries was not known.

Olympia Fire Lt. Right Mier said early Monday that the building collapsed and is a rubble pile. Adjacent building did not suffer any major damage.

They didn't know if anyone was inside, although the woman said she believed it was empty.

Fire Investigators will observe the scene but the cause will likely remain undetermined, officials said.